Oct. 24, 2003
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State recorded a season high 32 shots but was unable to post the game winner as the Aztecs came from behind to earn a 1-1 tie against Denver on Friday at the SDSU Sports Deck. The Pioneers scored first at the 19:14 mark, but the second half was dominated by SDSU as they recorded 15 shots and held Denver to only two. Matt Couch tied the game at the 69:55 mark on a header off a pass from Blake Perry and SDSU generated numerous additional scoring chances but Denver held the Aztecs in check to earn the tie. SDSU is now 7-4-2 on the year while Denver is 7-6-2.
Denver opened the first half with high energy and kept the action even for the first 20 minutes. Kyle Christensen scored his team leading sixth goal of the season when he got a head on a bouncing ball to put it over SDSU goalkeeper Colin Hanke. The Aztecs controlled the rest of the half and finished the first period with a 12-6 shot advantage.
The Aztecs remained in control in the second half and tied the score just over under 25 minutes into the second half on a beautiful play. Eric Wohl lobbed a pass to Blake Perry who centered the ball right to the head of a flying Matt Couch. Couch took care of the rest tucking the ball into the top left hand corner for his second goal of the season.
In addition to the goal, SDSU put two shots off of the post, had a shot pushed a side right on the goal line by a Denver defender, and narrowly missed on several header opportunities.
Both overtime periods saw more of the same as SDSU controlled the action, but could not connect. Couch also led the Aztecs with seven shots, while Heath Creager and Nick Clemens both added five. Colin Hanke recorded five saves in goal.
The Aztecs will host Air Force in their third MPSF game in six days on Sunday at the SDSU Sports Deck beginning at 1:00 pm.